Hugh Jackman has cemented his position as Australia’s greatest ever “triple threat” by storming to the top of BRW’s Top 50 Entertainers list with gross earnings of a staggering $46.8 million in the past 12 months.

Mr Jackman, who is renowned across the entertainment world for his ability to sing, dance and act – the definition of a “triple threat” star – is also leading an army of Australian stars raking in big dollars from Hollywood. There are 24 actors on the list this year, up from 18 in 2012.

And while names like Alex O’Loughlin, Yvonne Strahovski and Ryan Kwanten wouldn’t necessarily be considered well-known back home, their success in the world’s most important and best-paying entertainment market has helped them post gross earnings of at least $1 million in the past 12 months.

But Jackman’s domination of the list is impressive.

His earnings are the highest ever posted by an individual in the history of the Top 50 Entertainers list, and more than ­double that of those in ­second place on the list, The Wiggles, who earned $18.2 million.

Actor Cate Blanchett was in third place with gross earnings of $17.2 million, while Russell Crowe ($15.1 million) and Simon Baker ($10.1 million) round out the top five.

BRW’s earnings figure is based on Jackman’s work on three films: The Wolverine; an upcoming instalment of the X-Men series, X-Men: Days of Future Past (where he also plays Wolverine); and the newly released drama Prisoners. The Top 50 Entertainers list is published in BRW, which is out on Thursday.

Plenty of money in broadcasting

Most entertainers, like Jackman, are based overseas.

Twenty-six earn most of their income in the United States while another three – Elle Macpherson, Peter Andre and The Australian Pink Floyd Show – are based in Britain.

The top-ranked musician on the list is Keith Urban, who pulled in $6.8 million to rank eighth, just two places below his wife, Nicole Kidman on $8.6 million. His recording career has been complemented by work on reality television.

Celebrity chef Curtis Stone is the best-placed TV presenter, earning $6.4 million thanks largely to his work on US television.

Veteran broadcaster Alan Jones is the highest-earning radio presenter with $4 million, equal with radio duo Hamish Blake and Andy Lee.

Other radio presenters on the list include Ray Hadley ($3 million), Kyle Sandilands and Jackie O ($1.9 million) and Ross Stevenson ($1 million).

One of the more unusual ­members of this list is a tribute group.

The Australian Pink Floyd Show is estimated to have pulled in gross earnings of $5 million in the past 12 months.

Kate Morton, author of The Forgotten Garden, is the lone author on the list, with earnings of $1.5 million.